OXFORD — One question split a group of Talawanda High School seniors: Have you ever been bullied at school or online?

More than half the students crossed quietly to the opposite side of the auditorium signaling they had been a victim of bullying. Those who stayed held a hand up to signal their support.

The question was just one of many answered by the seniors during a special day in which the class confidentially shared personal experiences and learned about each other.

It’s called a PRIDE Day, which stands for People Respecting Individual Differences Everyday.

“I think it’s definitely worthwhile, definitely helps the class relate better together so there’s not an outcast and everyone gets along better,” said Taylor Nackhla, 17.

Nackhla and half the senior class spent the day at Cobblestone church Tuesday, Sept. 7. The other seniors met at Millett Hall. Each group spent the day doing activities and games, and meeting with their “families,” which were circles of about nine students.

Nackhla said she learned people only show about 10 percent of who they really are to others.

“Even though we’ve been with them for 12 years, you don’t really know their personal lives,” she said. “It’s bringing us closer together.”

PRIDE Day at Talawanda was born of a 2005 committee studying school climate. Students in that group who saw a clip of the PRIDE program on the TV show “Oprah” thought it would be a good program to have at Talawanda, said assistant superintendent Kelly Spivey.

About 14 teachers put together the event for the seniors this year.

“We realize kids carry so much baggage in their personal lives, we need to understand them,” said Spivey, who added it helps to identity students’ learning needs.

“We all have a lot more in common. We need to be there for each other,” she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139 or mengle@coxohio.com.